Page 92 of Make Me Whole

As soon as the car stopped, I opened the door and raced toward him. My sweet little boy seemed just as eager to see me. He tossed the can of soda he was drinking on the floor and ran toward me, screaming, “Mom,” on repeat.

Despite how sore I was, I picked him up and hugged him as tightly as I could. Wrapped around me, Aiden rested his head on my shoulder in a way that made him seem much younger and whispered, “I missed you all the way to the moon.”

I smiled, kissed his cheek, and somehow, hugged him even tighter. “I missed you all the way to the moon. And back.”

With his hands clasped behind my very sore neck, he leaned back to look at me and gave me a shy smile. “Promise you won’t ever leave us again. Please, Mom.”

“I promise, Son. From now on, it’s gonna be you and me and Dad and Ella and New Baby forever and ever.”

“I like that,” he replied, grinning.

After kissing my cheek, he stretched his legs to return to the floor but didn’t let go of me even when his feet hit the ground and my dad, Max, Ella, and Molly approached.

During our ride, Max had quickly filled me in on his squabble with Dad and their conversation at Eli’s stairwell where forgiveness and blessings were finally given. My heart soared at this strange reality I was living in. I wasn’t a woman used to getting what she wanted, to getting happiness. But as my whole family stood in happy peace in front of my gorgeous house, I realized that my life had changed in a much deeper way than the obvious ones.

“Do you and Molly want to come in for pizza?” Max asked my dad, who looked from us to his girlfriend and shook his head.

“Maybe tomorrow,” he said. “Molly and I need to go get my car and then some shuteye. You guys enjoy some family time, and we’ll see each other tomorrow for our traditional Saturday BBQ.”

After he had said goodbye to Max and the kids, I hugged him and whispered, “I love you, Daddy. Thank you for everything, especially the understanding and the blessing.”

His fingers dug deeper into my back and he kissed my cheek. “All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy, baby. If you are, then I am too.”

I kissed his cheek once more, waved goodbye, and then went inside our house with my family.

As per Dad’s suggestion, we had a nice family night with pizza on the couch, ice cream, and a movie. When the kids were ready for bed, Max tucked Ella in while I read a story and cuddled with Aiden. Though I wanted time alone with Max more than air, I didn’t rush bedtime because for the first time, I would have all night to love him and then every night.

“How many stories did you read to him?” Max asked as I closed Aiden’s door behind me. He was leaning against the wall next to Ella’s door and looking quite overwhelmed.

I chuckled. “None. He read me a chapter ofHarry Potter, then told me about school, moving here, and life while I was away. What about you?”

“I read eight stories. She wanted twenty-one–one for each night she wasn’t here–but decided she was too tired after seven. We agreed that for the next three nights, I’ll read a week’s worth of stories plus that night’s one story. That way, we’ll be caught up fast and your time at Eli’s will be like it never happened.”

“I wish it were that easy,” I groaned a laugh.

“Me too,” he said as he walked over to me and wrapped me up in an embrace. “But what really matters is that you’re here now, and I’m never letting you go.”

I smiled at that. “Never, ever?”

Max shook his head and gave me a peck on the lips. “Nope.”

“Good. There’s nowhere else I’ll ever want to be other than safe in your arms.”

His smile doubled. “Talking about that,” he started, offering me his hand. “May I escort you toourroom?”

“Ourroom . . .” I said with a flutter in my stomach that was completely unrelated to our child. “I like the sound of that.”

Max winked. “Me too.”

Hand in hand, we walked across the hall to our room. He took a step back when we arrived to allow me to open the door myself. It was odd considering he was very into chivalry, but I knew him well enough to know that if he was doing this there was a good reason. So, I turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Then, my jawdropped.

The room glowed with candlelight, red roses were everywhere, and rose petals spelledMy Loveat the foot of the bed. It was magical and made me feel the happiest and most in love I had ever felt before.

“For the longest time I lived this empty half-life. Then you came along and filled me with joy, hope, and life. I fell in love with you for who you are and for who you make me want to be.

“But even though you made me feel so much when we were together, these weeks apart made me feel even more. So much longing, so much fear, so much pain. I went a little nuts. The only thing that kept me going was the promise I made myself that once you were back by my side, I wouldn’t let anything, anyone, or any time come between us. I would make you mine and love you till the day I died.”

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